Narrative:

I was working local when told we had an A330 emergency diverting and coming in opposite direction landing [runway] 34R currently dumping fuel. The TRACON advised they would let me know when to stop departures. I was very busy on local had about ten departures for [runway] 16L and was launching them as fast as possible. I had just put another air carrier in position when the TRACON hit the stop departure lights. I called departure and let them know about the aircraft in front of the other air carrier that was already departing; then since the other air carrier hadn't lined up yet taxied him across [runway] 16L to hold short of the center to get him off the runway. I think they stopped departures too soon [as] the A330 was about 30 miles out. The TRACON should have coordinated with me instead of just hitting the stop departure lights. Several aircraft had delays because of the departure(s) cut off. The A330 was too high and had to do a 360 on final; all done on final frequency no coordination was done with me. I think a little heads up would have been nice; further delaying departures. As the A330 was landing; I realized I should have made sure intersection east was no longer blocked. I did not think he would land that long with calm winds and coming in slow. Long story short he rolled down to east; then requested a doctor meet him at the gate. That was the first time we heard he needed medical assistance. I just thought that he was only a mechanical emergency. Better communication; making sure the intersection wasn't blocked; enough people to have local assist open would have helped but that late at night it was impossible; controller in charge being busy with a lot of phone calls and working clearance delivery at the same time so he was distracted; better coordination from the TRACON.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described the complexities of handling an emergency aircraft inbound opposite direction to the normal flow of traffic and the coordination/communications difficulties encountered.

Narrative: I was working Local when told we had an A330 emergency diverting and coming in opposite direction landing [Runway] 34R currently dumping fuel. The TRACON advised they would let me know when to stop departures. I was very busy on Local had about ten departures for [Runway] 16L and was launching them as fast as possible. I had just put another Air Carrier in position when the TRACON hit the stop departure lights. I called Departure and let them know about the aircraft in front of the other Air Carrier that was already departing; then since the other Air Carrier hadn't lined up yet taxied him across [Runway] 16L to hold short of the center to get him off the runway. I think they stopped departures too soon [as] the A330 was about 30 miles out. The TRACON should have coordinated with me instead of just hitting the stop departure lights. Several aircraft had delays because of the departure(s) cut off. The A330 was too high and had to do a 360 on final; all done on final frequency no coordination was done with me. I think a little heads up would have been nice; further delaying departures. As the A330 was landing; I realized I should have made sure Intersection E was no longer blocked. I did not think he would land that long with calm winds and coming in slow. Long story short he rolled down to E; then requested a doctor meet him at the gate. That was the first time we heard he needed medical assistance. I just thought that he was only a mechanical emergency. Better communication; making sure the intersection wasn't blocked; enough people to have local assist open would have helped but that late at night it was impossible; CIC being busy with a lot of phone calls and working clearance delivery at the same time so he was distracted; better coordination from the TRACON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.